Infusion monitor

Abstract

An infusion monitor for feeding liquids to patients which is light weight so that it may be easily hung on a liquid dripper and which is provided with means for pre-setting the volume infused and the rate of infusion. Means are also provided for automatically varying the rate of infusion, for automatically cutting-off the infusion and for sounding an alarm to alert an attendant if any variation from pre-set limits occur.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A liquid infusion monitor system comprising a reservoir for liquid, an infusion tube assembly operatively associated with said reservoir and including an infusion tube, a single cartridge mounted adjacent the infusion tube assembly with one side of the cartridge facing said infusion tube assembly for monitoring the amount of liquid passing through said infusion tube assembly, said cartridge having contained therein: (a) means for pre-setting the amount of liquid, (b) means for sensing the amount of fluid passing through said infusion tube assembly and (c) means for automatically increasing or decreasing the amount of liquid infused to conform to said pre-set amounts, said sensing means comprising a pair of sensing openings located on said side of said cartridge facing the infusion tube assembly, reflecting means opposite said sensing openings, said sensing means comprising means for emitting a sensing beam through one of said sensing openings toward said reflecting means and means for receiving said sensing beam through the other of said sensing openings after said sensing beam is reflected from said reflecting means, a seating surface in a wall on said cartridge, said seating surface having an open face which faces outwardly from the said cartridge and away from said wall and adapted to receive the infusion tube assembly, said sensing opening being centrally located at the base of said seating surface, said seating surface being shaped to automatically locate said infusion tube assembly within the seating surface whereby the said infusion tube assembly will automatically be properly located with respect to said sensing openings. 
     
     
       2. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cartridge having a squeezing assembly extending from an outside wall thereof, an infusion tube being mounted between said squeezing assembly and said outside wall and wherein means are provided in the cartridge for moving the squeezing assembly in one direction to apply pressure to the infusion tube to squeeze it against said outside wall and for moving the squeezing assembly in the opposite direction to release pressure on the infusion tube. 
     
     
       3. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said squeezing assembly comprises a squeeze notch adapted to receive the infusion tube and wherein movement in one direction will release pressure on the tube and movement in the opposite direction will apply pressure on the tube to squeeze it. 
     
     
       4. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 3, wherein motor means are provided in the cartridge to move the squeeze assembly in either direction. 
     
     
       5. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 4, wherein spring connection means are provided between the squeeze assembly and said motor means. 
     
     
       6. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a manually operable squeezer handle means are provided to move the squeezing assembly and permit an infusion tube to be mounted in its notch. 
     
     
       7. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said squeezer assembly is provided with a rest notch in which the infusion tube is mounted. 
     
     
       8. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a dripper assembly is interposed between said reservoir and said infusion tube and wherein said cartridge is removably mounted on said dripper assembly. 
     
     
       9. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 8, wherein sensing beams are directed at the dripper through said openings in order to sense the liquid drips passing through the dripper assembly. 
     
     
       10. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a wire hinge is provided on the cartridge and is adapted to rest on the dripper assembly. 
     
     
       11. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cartridge is provided with a dripper-receiving surface in which the dripper assembly rests and wherein clamp means are provided on the cartridge to cooperate with said wire hinge to hold the cartridge on the dripper assembly. 
     
     
       12. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said clamping assembly comprises a two arm lever having a clamping means on one end adapted to apply pressure to the dripper assembly and hold it in the said seating surface. 
     
     
       13. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a handle is provided on the other end of the two arm lever to permit the clamping means to move away from the dripper assembly to release the dripper assembly from the cartridge. 
     
     
       14. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said seating surface is a concave seating surface and wherein said openings are in said seating surface. 
     
     
       15. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sensing means are comprised of a pair of light emitting diode and photo transistors. 
     
     
       16. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said diode is biased on so that the transistor is on. 
     
     
       17. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 16, wherein passage of a drop of liquid through the dripper is sensed by said diode and transistor to momentarily interrupt the transistor to form a negative-going pulse. 
     
     
       18. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said negative-going pulse is coupled with a hex inverter by a capacitor and wherein said negative-going pulse is shaped into a square wave. 
     
     
       19. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said negative square wave is connected to a quad nand-schmidt trigger, one stage of which acts as an oscillator adapted to be activated when the output is high and interrupted when the output is low whereby the duration of an interrupted period of oscillation is the time between successive drops. 
     
     
       20. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the frequency of oscillation is controlled by a potentiometer which may be pre-set, whereby the frequency of oscillation and the duration controls the number of counts that will be performed by a counter. 
     
     
       21. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 20, wherein a detection system is provided with a plurality of LEDs, which display through infusion monitor assembly, light to indicate that the drip count is slow, tuned or fast whereby when the drip count is greater than said pre-set potentiometer setting the fast LED is activated, when the drip count corresponds to said pre-set potentiometer setting the tune LED is activated and when the drip count is slower than said pre-set potentiometer setting the slow LED is activated. 
     
     
       22. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 21, wherein means are provided for activating a warning signal when the pre-set amount is not delivered. 
     
     
       23. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said motor means are operatively connected to the fast and slow circuitry so that the circuitry commands the motor to be activated. 
     
     
       24. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said motor means comprises transistor assemblies for controlling its function. 
     
     
       25. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said transistor assemblies command the motor to move in one direction or the other to either increase or decrease the amount of fluid infused and wherein said movement will continue until the amount infused is in tune at which point no pulse is emitted from the fast-slow circuitry and the motor stops. 
     
     
       26. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 25, wherein after a pre-set number of CCs have been delivered, the motor will move to maximum squeeze condition to stop the flow of liquid. 
     
     
       27. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said warning signal comprises an oscillator to sound an alarm. 
     
     
       28. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 27, wherein switch means are provided to indicate total accumulation delivered and predetermined drop ratio to-CC as well as volume and drop rate. 
     
     
       29. An infusion monitor system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said switch means comprise diode and resistor means. 
     
     
       30. A cartridge for use with a liquid infusion monitor system having an infusion tube assembly for monitoring the amount of liquid infused through the infusion tube assembly and being adapted to be mounted adjacent the infusion tube assembly with one side thereof facing the infusion tube assembly, said cartridge having contained therein (a) means for pre-setting the amount of liquid infused, (b) means for sensing the amount of liquid passing through the infusion tube assembly and (c) means for automatically increasing or decreasing the amount of liquid infused to conform to said pre-set amounts said sensing means comprising a pair of sensing openings located on said side of said cartridge facing the infusion tube assembly, reflecting means opposite said sensing openings, said sensing means comprising means for emitting a sensing beam through one of said sensing openings toward said reflecting means and means for receiving said sensing beam through the other of said sensing openings after said sensing beam is reflected from said reflecting means, a seating surface in a wall on said cartridge, said seating surface having an open face which faces outwardly from the said cartridge and away from said wall and adapted to receive the infusion tube assembly, said sensing opening being centrally located at the base of said seating surface, said seating surface being shaped to automatically locate said infusion tube assembly within the seating surface whereby the said infusion tube assembly will automatically be properly located with respect to said sensing openings. 
     
     
       31. A cartridge as claimed in claim 30, wherein said automatic means comprises a squeezing assembly extending from an outside wall thereof, an infusion tube being mounted between said squeezing assembly and said outside wall and wherein means are provided for moving the squeezing assembly in one direction to apply pressure to an infusion tube to squeeze it against said outside wall and for moving the squeezing assembly in the opposite direction to release pressure on an infusion tube. 
     
     
       32. A cartridge as claimed in claim 30, wherein said squeezing assembly comprises a squeeze notch adapted to receive the infusion tube and wherein movement in one direction will release pressure on an infusion tube and movement in the opposite direction will apply pressure on an infusion tube and to squeeze it. 
     
     
       33. A cartridge as claimed in claim 32, wherein motor means are provided to move the squeeze assembly in either direction. 
     
     
       34. A cartridge as claimed in claim 33, wherein spring connection means are provided between the squeeze assembly and said motor means. 
     
     
       35. A cartridge as claimed in claim 34, wherein a manually operable squeezer handle means are provided to move the squeezing assembly and permit an infusion tube to be mounted in its notch. 
     
     
       36. A cartridge as claimed in claim 35, wherein said squeezer assembly is provided with a rest notch in which the infusion tube is mounted. 
     
     
       37. A cartridge as claimed in claim 36, wherein a pair of sensing openings are provided in the infusion monitor assembly through which sensing beams are emitted in order to sense the liquid drips being infused. 
     
     
       38. A cartridge as claimed in claim 37, wherein a wire hinge is provided on the infusion monitor assembly. 
     
     
       39. A cartridge as claimed in claim 38, wherein a dripper assembly receiving surface is provided and clamp means are provided to cooperate with said wire hinge to hold the infusion monitor assembly in its monitoring position. 
     
     
       40. A cartridge as claimed in claim 39, wherein said clamping assembly comprises a two arm lever having a clamping means on one end adapted to apply pressure to a dripper assembly. 
     
     
       41. A cartridge as claimed in claim 40, wherein a handle is provided on the other end of the two arm lever to permit the clamping means to move away from a dripper assembly. 
     
     
       42. A cartridge as claimed in claim 41, wherein said seating surface is a concave seating surface and wherein said openings are in said seating surface. 
     
     
       43. A cartridge as claimed in claim 42, wherein said sensing means are comprised of a pair of light emitting diode and photo transistors. 
     
     
       44. A cartridge as claimed in claim 43, wherein said diode is biased on so that the transistor is on. 
     
     
       45. A cartridge as claimed in claim 44, wherein passage of a drop of liquid through the dripper is sensed by said diode and transistor to momentarily interrupt the transistor to form a negative-going pulse. 
     
     
       46. A cartridge as claimed in claim 45, wherein said negative-going pulse is coupled with a hex inverter by a capacitor and wherein said negative-going pulse is shaped into a square wave. 
     
     
       47. A cartridge as claimed in claim 46, wherein said negative square wave is connected to a quad nand-schmidt trigger, one stage of which acts as an oscillator adapted to be activated when the output is high and interrupted when the output is low whereby the duration of an interrupted period of oscillation is the time between successive drops. 
     
     
       48. A cartridge as claimed in claim 47, wherein the frequency of oscillation is controlled by a potentiometer which may be pre-set, whereby the frequency of oscillation and the duration controls the number of counts that will be performed by a counter. 
     
     
       49. A cartridge as claimed in claim 48, wherein a detection system is provided with a plurality of LEDs, which display through infusion monitor assembly, light to indicate that the drip count is slow, tuned or fast whereby when the drip count is greater than said pre-set potentiometer setting the fast LED is activated, when the drip count corresponds to said pre-set potentiometer setting the tune LED is activated and when the drip count is slower than said pre-set potentiometer setting the slow LED is activated. 
     
     
       50. A cartridge as claimed in claim 49, wherein means are provided for activating a warning signal when the pre-set amount is not delivered. 
     
     
       51. A cartridge as claimed in claim 50, wherein said motor means are operatively connected to the fast and slow circuitry so that the circuitry commands the motor to be activated. 
     
     
       52. A cartridge as claimed in claim 51, wherein said motor means comprises transistor assemblies for controlling its function. 
     
     
       53. A cartridge as claimed in claim 52, wherein said transistor assemblies command the motor to move in one direction or the other to either increase or decrease the amount of fluid infused and wherein said movement will continue until the amount infused is in tune at which point no pulse is emitted from the fast-slow circuitry and the motor stops. 
     
     
       54. A cartridge as claimed in claim 53, wherein after a pre-set number of CCs have been delivered, the motor will move to maximum squeeze condition to stop the flow of liquid. 
     
     
       55. A cartridge as claimed in claim 54, wherein said warning signal comprises an oscillator to sound an alarm. 
     
     
       56. A cartridge as claimed in claim 55, wherein switch means are provided to indicate total accumulation delivered and predetermined drop ratio to-CC as well as volume and drop rate. 
     
     
       57. A cartridge as claimed in claim 56, wherein said switch means comprise diode and resistor means. 
     
     
       58. A liquid infusion monitor assembly comprising a cartridge, means within the cartridge for pre-setting the amount of liquid infused, means within the cartridge for pre-setting the number of drops per cubic centimeter, means within the cartridge for monitoring the amount of liquid infused, means within the cartridge for automatically increasing or decreasing the amount of liquid infused to conform to said pre-set amounts, a pair of sensing openings in said cartridge through which sensing beams are emitted in order to sense the liquid drips being infused, means on the cartridge for removably mounting the cartridge on one side of an infusion conduit, the circuit components for the pre-setting, monitoring and automatic means being mounted entirely within said cartridge, said sensing openings being on the same side of said cartridge, said mounting means comprising a wire hinge on the cartridge, a dripper assembly-receiving surface is provided in the cartridge, clamp means are provided on the cartridge to cooperate with said wire hinbge to hold the cartridge in its monitoring position, said clamping means comprises a two arm lever having a clamping means on one end adapted to apply pressure to a dripper assembly, a mirror handle on the other end of the two arm lever to permit the clamping means to move away from a dripper assembly, said receiving surface is a concave seating surface and said sensing openings are in said receiving surface, said sensing means are comprised of a pair of light emitting diode and photo transistors, said diode being biased on so that the transistor is on, whereby passage of a drop of liquid through the dripper is sensed by said diode and transistor to momentarily interrupt the transistor to form a negative-going pulse, said negative-going pulse being coupled with a hex inverter by a capacitor and wherein said negative-going pulse is shaped into a square wave. 
     
     
       59. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 58, wherein said negative square wave is connected to a quad nand-schmidt trigger, one stage of which acts as an oscillator adapted to be activated when the output is high and interrupted when the output is low whereby the duration of an interrupted period of oscillation is the time between successive drops. 
     
     
       60. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 59, wherein the frequency of oscillation is controlled by a potentiometer which may be pre-set, whereby the frequency of oscillation and the duration controls the number of counts that will be performed by a counter. 
     
     
       61. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 60, wherein a detection system is provided with a plurality of LEDs, which display through infusion monitor assembly, light to indicate that the drip count is slow, tuned or fast whereby when the drip count is greater than said pre-set potentiometer setting the fast LED is activated, when the drip count corresponds to said pre-set potentiometer setting the tune LED is activated and when the drip count is slower than said pre-set potentiometer setting the slow LED is activated. 
     
     
       62. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 61, wherein means are provided for activating a warning signal when the pre-set amount is not delivered. 
     
     
       63. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 62, wherein said motor means are operatively connected to the fast and slow circuitry so that the circuitry commands the motor to be activated. 
     
     
       64. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 63, wherein said motor means comprises transistor assemblies for controlling its function. 
     
     
       65. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 64, wherein said transistor assemblies command the motor to move in one direction or the other to either increase or decrease the amount of liquid infused and wherein said movement will continue until the amount infused is in tune at which point no pulse is emitted from the fast-slow circuitry and the motor stops. 
     
     
       66. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 65, wherein after a pre-set number of CCs have been delivered, the motor will move to maximum squeeze condition to stop the flow of liquid. 
     
     
       67. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 66, wherein said warning signal comprises an oscillator to sound an alarm. 
     
     
       68. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 67, wherein switch means are provided to indicate tool accumulation delivered and predetermined drop ratio to-CC as well as volume and drop rate. 
     
     
       69. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 68, wherein said switch means comprise diode and resistor means. 
     
     
       70. A liquid infusion monitor assembly comprising a cartridge, means within the cartridge for pre-setting the amount of liquid infused, means within the cartridge for pre-setting the number of drops per cubic centimeter, means within the cartridge for monitoring the amount of liquid infused, means within the cartridge for automatically increasing or decreasing the amount of liquid infused to conform to said pre-set amounts, means on the cartridge for removably mounting the cartridge on one side of an infusion conduit, the circuit components for the pre-setting, monitoring and automatic means being mounted entirely within said cartridge, a pair of sensing openings being provided in the carriage through which sensing beams are emitted in order to sense the liquid drips being infused, said sensing openings being on the same side of said cartridge, said sensing means comprised of a pair of light emitting diode and photo transistors, said diode being biased on so that the transistor is on whereby passage of a drop of liquid through the dripper is sensed by said diode and transistor to momentarily interrupt the transistor to form a negative-going pulse, said negative-going pulse being coupled with a hex inverter by a capacitor and wherein said negative-going pulse is shaped into a square wave. 
     
     
       71. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 70, wherein said negative square wave is connected to a quad nand-schmidt trigger, one stage of which acts as an oscillator adapted to be activated when the output is high and interrupted when the output is low whereby the duration of an interrupted period of oscillation is the time between successive drops. 
     
     
       72. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in clam 71, wherein the frequency of oscillation is controlled by a potentiometer which may be pre-set, whereby the frequency of oscillation and the duration controls the number of counts that will be performed by a counter. 
     
     
       73. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 72, wherein a detection system is provided with a plurality of LEDs, which display through infusion monitor assembly, light to indicate that the drip count is slow, tuned or fast whereby when the drip count is greater than said pre-set potentiometer setting the fast LED is activated, when the drip count corresponds to said pre-set potentiometer setting the tune LED is activated and when the drip count is slower than said pre-set potentiometer setting the slow LED is activated. 
     
     
       74. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 73, wherein means are provided for activating a warning signal when the pre-set amount is not delivered. 
     
     
       75. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 74, wherein said motor means are operatively connected to the fast and slow circuitry so that the circuit commands the motor to be activated. 
     
     
       76. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 75, wherein said motor means comprises transistor assemblies for controlling its function. 
     
     
       77. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 76, wherein said transistor assemblies command the motor to move in one direction or the other to either increase or decrease the amount of fluid infused and wherein said movement will continue until the amount infused is in tune at which point no pulse is emitted from the fast-slow circuitry and the motor stops. 
     
     
       78. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 77, wherein after a pre-set number of CCs have been delivered, the motor will move to maximum squeeze condition to stop the flow of liquid. 
     
     
       79. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 78, wherein said warning signal comprises an oscillator to sound an alarm. 
     
     
       80. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 79, wherein switch means are provided to indicate total accumulation delivered and predetermined drop ratio to-CC as well as volume and drop rate. 
     
     
       81. An infusion monitor assembly as claimed in claim 80, wherein said switch means comprise diode and resistor means.